Congratulations are in order for Oundle Community First Responder Paul Brackley, who was named on the New Year's Honours list and will receive the British Empire Medal for services to the community.
Paul, 58, who is also Head Porter at Oundle School, has been a community first responder (CFR) for over 20 years and helped to set up the Oundle Community First Responder scheme in 2003. The scheme was one of the first in the area to exist. Since the scheme began, Paul has volunteered for more than 41,000 hours and responded to over 4000 patients across the area.
For Paul, helping people in his community is the reward for his time and commitment he puts in to being a CFR. For the last 13 years, Paul has been the group co-ordinator for his scheme, encouraging others to become volunteers within the community and ensuring the members of his scheme have the most up to date training and overseeing the vital fundraising for the scheme.
He said: "I feel very honoured to have received this award. I became a CFR to help my local community and never expected to receive such an award as this. To be recognised with a British Empire Medal makes me feel very proud."
Paul previously was awarded with a Chief Executive Commendation in 2018 from EMAS for the commitment to his scheme.